Lou Ragland -

Lou Ragland (born July 18, 1942) is an American soul singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and label operator from Cleveland. He recorded the Northern soul favorite “I Travel Alone” for Amy Records and led the Cleveland group Hot Chocolate on a self-titled 1971 album. Ragland established SMH Records for his 1977 solo album He Says “Understand Each Other”.

Background

Lou Ragland was born Louis Edward Ragland on July 18, 1942, in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up in Cleveland’s Central and Hough neighborhoods and learned alto saxophone, clarinet, and tuba as a child. At age 13, Ragland heard Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers and developed an interest in vocal R&B, then added guitar and organ. Ragland joined the Sahibs, a Cleveland vocal group led by James Dotson that included singer George Hendricks.

The Sahibs competed in local talent contests against groups including Edwin Starr’s FutureTones, with the two groups sharing first place at one contest. After the Sahibs split, Ragland moved toward instrumental work and took up guitar when the group guitarist repeatedly missed engagements. He formed Lou Ragland and the Bandmasters and led the group as house band at the Music Box on Euclid Avenue, where singer Kim Tolliver fronted the ensemble. Ragland also played the Hut and Mayflower clubs, while the Bandmasters backed Tolliver at Gleason’s Show Bar.

Way Out Records co-owner Lester Johnson heard Ragland perform Joe Scott’s “Never Let Me Go” at the Music Box and asked him to record the song. Way Out issued Lou Ragland and the Bandmasters’ “Never Let Me Go” (b/w “Party at Lester’s”) in 1964, marking Ragland’s first released recording.

Discography: